Lighting Co
Epic Production Technologies
Venue
Various (Tour)
Crew
Lighting Designer/Director: Lawrence “Loz” Upton
Lighting Crew Chief: Matt Wyman
Lighting Tech/Master Electrician: Leith Duvall
Programmer: Brad Schiller
Production Manager: Chris Gratton
Tour Manager: Kevin Carter
Lighting/Truss Reps: Kevin Forster, Matt McCormack
Set/Staging Company: Accurate Staging
Video Company: LMG Video
Gear
1 WholeHog III lighting console w/Rockwing & video server
30 Martin MAC XBs
8 Martin MAC 700s
8 Martin MAC 2000 Profiles
30 GLP Volkslichts
20 4-cell Moles
14 HES Showpix fixtures
16 LED bricks
90 egg strobes
1 LMG high-res video screen
Production Perspectives
Lawrence Upton, Lighting Designer/Director:
“The tour’s design was based on two key parameters, with no overhead or front lighting. I used a lot of [Martin] MAC XBs and MAC 700s. Some fixtures new for me were the [High End Systems/Barco] Showpix, which were an ideal choice for the kind of show I wanted to achieve, it’s a very unique and trippy show. Also, the GLP Volkslight LED wash fixture gave the show a different look, which we were happy with.
“Epic Productions is the lighting vender for the tour; our production manager, Chris Gratton, suggested them. They did a great job — their staff, including Matt Wyman and Leith Duvall, are excellent, and they had the gear to meet our custom needs. Kevin Forster, our rep, has a great understanding of what it takes to support and staff a tour.
“Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan was very involved in the development of the design. We took time to examine the progress of ideas and development, and Chris (Gratton) kept us up to date on availability of gear needed. Working with Chris was great! I think it’s really important that the designer and production manager work together to solve any potential problems.
“The set design went into a lot of different-size venues, and it was teamwork and planning that made it work. Our lighting guys, Matt Wyman (crew chief) and Leith Duvall (tech/master electrician) did a great job preparing and adapting the system for all the various situations we ran into. Everyone from every department worked together to achieve our final goals, a true team effort.
“Acknowledgements also go out to Craig at High End for working with us, Accurate Staging for fabrication of the custom motorized propellors and Epic Productions for all the custom work, including the BB4 Pods. Also, Ken and Janet from LMG, for all their help with our video. All of these greatly aided our unique look. Also thanks to Matt McCormack, the Smashing Pumpkins crew, Richard Belliveau, Craig Burrows and to my buddies Brad Schiller and Phil Galler.”
Chris Gratton, Production Manager:
“Lawrence designed a show that was very versatile and quite easily adaptable. Lawrence and I, along with Matt [Wyman] and Leith [Duvall] (Epic Productions lighting crew), would get together a few days out from every gig and go through the rigging options, stage size, power, and would come up with a design to work in every venue which included theaters and arenas. Then the morning of the gigs, we would go in a half hour before load-in started and finalize the plans. The whole production team of lighting, video and audio worked extremely well together on all levels to make every show a success… it made for a great experience.
“I love working with Lawrence, and always have. He’s very passionate about what he does and extremely creative, one of the most unique designers in the business, personally and professionally — a true hands-on artist. We had a great run in 2011 and will be going back out this year with a new and, without a doubt, very original configuration. We are all are very excited about it.”
{mosapa album=”SmashingPumpkins”}
